I am soon to retire and would like to apply for a firearms certificate to take up shooting with a .17HMR for both targets and vermin.
Gun laws
Have a query about UK gun laws? Wondering how to get your shotgun licence or firearms certificate? How to store your gun and how to transport it? What happens if you have been in ill-health?
Here are the answers to these questions and many more concerning gun ownership.
Frequent updates
The laws on gun ownership change frequently, with debates by MPs on the subjects regularly in the news. We keep you updated with what is going on here, with all you need to know as a responsible and safe shooter.
Our experts have written many different articles on gun law, with regular updates when legislation changes. Browse through the topics here to find the answers you are looking for. If you have a question on a particular aspect of gun law then get in touch by e mailing us at shootinguk@timeinc.com and we will do what we can to help.
You might also like to visit our general legal section, which covers a variety of issues.
Can I leave a shotgun at my holiday home?
Q: I have a shotgun licence, registered in London, and a number of shotguns kept at that registered address. I also have a holiday home, which has a clay ground nearby. Rather than keep transporting a gun to the holiday house I am keen to install a cabinet and leave…
I’ve just received a reminder to renew my shotgun certificate – what should I do next?
I’ve just received my shotgun certificate renewal reminder. Is there a deadline by which time I have to get it back to the police?
Do I need lessons before I get my shotgun licence?
Shotgun licence: I’ve spent some time with a small shoot this season and love it, and I now fancy taking up shooting myself. How do I get started? Can I receive instruction before getting a shotgun licence?
Do my shotguns have to be kept at my home address?
Shotgun licence: If I apply for a shotgun licence do the guns have to be kept at my home address?
Will a formal caution affect my shotgun licence?
Shotgun licence: Two weeks ago I was arrested and given a formal caution for an offence I did not commit.
How certain police forces are putting obstacles in the way of getting a firearms licence
Sometimes you wonder who makes the law. Is it Parliament or is it the police? Your MP thinks it’s him but in some cases if your Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) doesn’t like what Parliament has decided he makes his own law. I thought it was the responsibility of the…
If I give them my shotgun licence can somebody else buy me cartridges?
I went shooting on one of the extremely cold days in early December, and when I was cleaning my gun afterwards I noticed that the bores were much dirtier than normal.
Can I go camping with my shotgun?
Should you keep your shotgun in the tent or your car? Q: I’m in the process of buying some woodland and I intend to do some shooting there. I also plan to spend a lot of time camping in the woods. Is it legal to leave my shotgun in the…
How far do shotgun pellets travel?
We did a risk assessment on our syndicate shoot last season and highlighted a slippery stream crossing (two planks of wood) as a potential problem.
Shotgun licence delayed? Don’t stand for it!
Delays on the part of police in issuing shotgun certificates, renewals and variations are unacceptable and should not be tolerated by gun owners.
Alcohol, guns and the law
An alarming viral email was recently widely distributed among members of the shooting community. It alleged that shoots will be specifically targeted by police with breathalyser tests over the Christmas period and has resulted in the police and BASC reassuring shooters that this is not the case
Is it legal to carry a shotgun on a motorcycle? And where should I store my shotgun during the shoot lunch?
Some time ago some shotguns were stolen from locked cars while the owners were in a pub having a meal. The shooters lost their certificates.
How to get your shotgun certificate
Find out how to apply for a shotgun licence, plus more information on waiting times, fees and the appeals process
I forgot to tell the police about my new gun in time. Now what?
Q: I recently bought a new gun and forgot to inform the police within the required seven-day gun notification period to add it to my licence. I have now sent the police the required paperwork but it is six weeks since I bought the gun. Should I call the police…
What does the law say about carrying a shotgun in public?
I'm a student living in the centre of Cambridge and quite regularly cycle to shoot on land on the outskirts of the city where I have rights, or to our local clay ground.
How long will it take you to get your shotgun and firearms certificates?
As in our last report, the City of London offers the shortest waiting times for receiving a new (or renewal of a shotgun certificate). Apply there and you can expect results in nine days, although previously it took five and three days respectively. The tables below were created by the…
Is my UK shotgun certificate valid abroad? Or do I need more documents?
Q: I’ve been invited to shoot in France next season. Will my shotgun certificate be valid over there? You will need your SGC and also a European Firearms Pass which can be obtained at no cost from your local police. The airline/ferry/tunnel will want to know you are travelling with firearms.…
New gun laws could have ‘unintended consequences’
The Countryside Alliance (CA) and BASC have both warned of “unintended consequences” for shooters stemming from the Government’s proposed new Offensive Weapons Bill. Announced by the Home Office earlier this month, the Bill forms part of the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy and had yet to be published at the time…
What happens if you admit to health problems on your shotgun licence renewal?
Shotgun licence renewal: What happens if you admit to having health problems when renewing a gun licence? David Frost finds out.